When you receive hospice care, the Yolo Hospice Medical Director or Associate Medical Director serves as a consultant to your attending physician for any pain or symptom management issues. You may choose your attending physician, who could be your primary care physician or the specialist treating your illness, such as a cardiologist.

“I can’t imagine going through one of life’s most difficult challenges without Yolo Hospice. Thank you, thank you.”

Registered Nurses (RNs) make regular visits to check the physical well-being and comfort of our patients. They provide input, clinical expertise, medication, or arrange for other care specialists to help manage symptoms. Yolo Hospice RNs are experts at teaching the skills that assist caregivers or loved ones to be confident in their ability to provide care. RNs are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, either in the office or after hours.  On-call RNs are available to answer questions, consult with you, and attend the patient if a visit is necessary.

“Every single person who came into our home from Yolo Hospice brought a remarkable sense of devotion, compassion, and truly gave us their ‘gifts.’ It is impossible to give adequate accolades.”

Our Hospice Aides are specially trained to provide personal care, support, and education to patients and their loved ones.  They identify and discuss each patient’s needs with the assigned nurse.  Hospice Aides are available to assist the family or other caregivers wherever the  patient calls home: a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF),  Assisted Living (RCFE) or in a private residence.

As patient care needs increase, personal grooming, linen changing and other light housekeeping duties provided by the hospice aides can be a welcome assistance.  Patients, family and caregivers have often referred to Yolo Hospice Aides as the “angels of hospice.”

Death and dying can translate directly into loss of control, fear, and uncertainty. In the midst of these changes, Yolo Hospice’s Social Workers offer a variety of resources that complement the nurses’ clinical care. They have the dual role of providing emotional support as well as guidance around additional support services, resources, and final planning issues.

Yolo Hospice’s Social Workers care for the patients and their loved ones in turmoil or tranquility, helping to carry them through the natural progression of dying and grieving, with assurance that their concerns have been met.

Spiritual care is a hospice service provided to help support a patient and their loved ones with the emotions and questions that often surface with serious illness. Experiencing a serious illness can result in irreversible changes for patients and their loved ones.

Faith or spirituality may be what provides meaning in life, and can be found in relationships with family, friends, or a greater power. For some it takes the form of religion; for others, it does not. Regardless of belief system, Yolo Hospice Spiritual Care Counselors are an optional resource available to support this journey for patients and their loved ones. A Yolo Hospice Spiritual Care Counselor will call to offer an initial visit. It is always your choice to accept, delay or decline their support, or to ask to be connected to another community group affiliated with your spirituality or faith.

Bereavement specialists provide grief support to patients’ loved ones and other community members, including those grieving the loss of a loved one who was not a Yolo Hospice patient. Through the Stepping Stones program, our specialists provide innovative grief support for children and teens.  Learn more about these services on our Grief Support page.

“My family and I are overwhelmed with the loving care, the kind attention, and the emotional support we received from Yolo Hospice during a most difficult time for us.”

Our volunteers are a vital part of our hospice team.  Patient Care Volunteers give support, comfort, and companionship to patients and their loved ones. The volunteer may provide caregiver breaks, reading to the patient, letter writing, errands, or documenting life review.  A big part of a volunteer’s effort is simply to determine the patient and family needs.  Our Bereavement Volunteers assist with calls to grieving family members, and our Office Volunteers provide support to our team in myriad office tasks.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering with Yolo Hospice, please visit the Volunteering section of the website.